A new class of drugs called incretin mimetics is offering hope to patients with type-2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes who have not been able to control their blood glucose levels after taking common oral regimens. Patients in phase III trials who received the investigational drug exenatide (synthetic extendin-4, Amylin/Eli Lilly) had lower blood glucose levels as well as improvements in markers of beta-cell function—and they lost weight to boot.

Researchers presented their findings from three studies at the 64th Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association.

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Health care providers might be wondering whether their patients will use statin therapy as an excuse to change their diet—for the worse. No need to worry, say researchers from Mount Sinai, Columbia University, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and New York University, and Weill Medical College, all in New York; and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

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Health care providers might be wondering whether their patients will use statin therapy as an excuse to change their diet—for the worse. No need to worry, say researchers from Mount Sinai, Columbia University, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and New York University, and Weill Medical College, all in New York; and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Read the rest of this entry »